Forms of violence checklist

This means uncalled behaviour, which causes suffering to the other person. It can be intentional or unintended, nonrecurring or continuous, or any type of physical or psychological violence.

A form of violence where the perpetrator, usually a caregiver or a guardian, disregards or leaves the physical or emotional needs of the other person, for example, a child, untreated.

is present in all forms of violence and can be challenging to identify. Mental violence may be the only form of violence in a close relationship or combined with other forms of violence.

This form of abuse aims to undermine the victim's self-worth and emotional well-being. It may include constant criticism, humiliation, manipulation, gaslighting, threats, intimidation, isolation from friends and family, controlling behaviours, or monitoring the victim's activities.

Describes a systematic set of violent acts that aim to subordinate and control another person. Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse characterized by systematic patterns of intimidation, isolation, degradation, and control exerted by one partner over another.

It involves tactics such as manipulation, monitoring, threats, and emotional abuse to dominate and disempower the victim. The goal is to establish dominance and instil fear, making the victim dependent and compliant.

Coercive control extends beyond isolated incidents, encompassing a sustained pattern of behaviour that restricts the victim's autonomy, often leading to profound psychological and emotional harm. Recognizing these subtle but insidious tactics is crucial for addressing and preventing this form of abuse.

Abusers often isolate their victims from friends, family, and support networks to maintain control over them. They may discourage or prevent the victim from socialising, restrict their movements, or limit their access to transportation or communication.

Domestic violence frequently involves intimidation, threats, or displays of aggressive behaviour. This can include threatening to harm the victim, their loved ones, or pets or using gestures, looks, or weapons to instill fear.

It is a form of manipulation where the tactic’s user aims to cause the victim to doubt themselves, their experiences and their observations.

It is called silent treatment when a person intentionally stops communicating verbally and nonverbally to another person. If it happens often or takes long, it is a form of mental or emotional violence.

It is only one form of violence, even though it is usually the first one that comes to mind when talking about violence. Yet, even physical violence can be challenging to identify. Also, threatening with violence is considered violence.

This involves any form of physical harm or violence, such as hitting, slapping, kicking, punching, or restraining the victim against their will. It may result in visible injuries like bruises, broken bones, or cuts.

Is physical or mental violence that a parent, another adult, or potentially a sibling uses towards a child to cause physical, psychological or emotional hurt or pain for the child to punish them or regulate or control their behaviour.

Is a form of mental violence but can be considered a form of violence by itself. Economic violence is a tactic of mental violence that seeks to control a person through economic means. Its purpose is to undermine that person’s right to manage their finances and make financial decisions.

Financial abuse involves controlling or exploiting the victim's financial resources, restricting their access to money, preventing them from working or forcing them to hand over their income. The abuser may also incur debts in the victim's name without their consent.

It is often hidden. Harassing physically and/or verbally, sexual comments, unwanted touch, coercion to watch pornography or sexual material, violent sex, non-consensual sexual activity or coercion, including forced sexual acts, rape, or any form of sexual degradation or humiliation, are forms of sexual violence.

With the increasing use of technology, domestic violence can also manifest as digital abuse. It can be stalking, controlling, intimidating, humiliating, punishing, and isolating via digital tools, applications and platforms. This includes monitoring the victim's online activities, controlling their social media accounts, sending threatening or harassing messages, or using technology to stalk or track the victim.

Digital stalking or violence can involve hacking into a partner's email, phone, computer, online banking service, or social media. The perpetrator might create a social media profile and impersonate the victim.

It is emotional/mental and physical violence with elements of religion or spirituality. This can be, for example, mocking or denying religion or religious needs or forcing the practice of religion.

It involves control, coercion, and other mental, physical, sexual, or religious violent acts perpetrated by family or community members. Underlying this is the idea that the person subjected to violence has violated the community standards of conduct or suspicion of this.

Forced marriage is arranged without the consent of both parties or when one or both parties cannot have their say in the marriage. A person may be pressured or forced into a marriage with various coercive circumstances.

Non-medical male circumcision is considered an offence against a boy child's right to physical integrity. Non-medical circumcision refers to a procedure carried out based on religious or cultural grounds involving surgical removal of the foreskin.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the mutilation of girls and women's genitals (sometimes you also see the term female circumcision). It is an old harmful, even life-threatening, practice of mutilating, cutting, and sewing up the genitals for no medical reason. Different beliefs are behind it, e.g. related to femininity, hygiene, chastity, honour and social cohesion.

It occurs when someone is contacting or approaching a victim constantly and they do not stop upon request. They can use different methods, but the victim will always be, at least, uncomfortable, if not afraid, if not terrified.